Smart card reader

Abstract

A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe. An enclosure has a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one peripheral edge, all of which together define an enclosure internal volume therewithin. A control circuit is disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and includes at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, a fingerprint sensor, a display screen, an LED indicator, an NFC/RFID reader, a wireless module, and optionally an interface connector. As such, information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through a first slot or inserted into a second slot and transferred to an electronic device connected with the interface connector or wirelessly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having at least a plurality of peripheral edges, an overall length, an overall width, an overall thickness, a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe, the device comprising:
 an enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge disposed opposite the first peripheral edge, a fourth peripheral edge disposed opposite the second peripheral edge, an overall length, an overall width, and an overall thickness, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, the third peripheral edge, and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure defining an enclosure internal volume therewithin, the overall length of the enclosure being less than the overall length of the smart card, the overall width of the enclosure being less than the overall width of the smart card; 
 a control circuit disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and including at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, and an interface connector projecting away from the first peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 the enclosure further including a first slot traversing the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the third peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, the first slot for receiving the smart card, the first slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is swiped through the first slot, the magnetic stripe reader disposed to read the magnetic stripe of the smart card when the smart card is swiped through the first slot; and 
 the enclosure further including a second slot traversing the third peripheral edge and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the enclosure, the second slot for receiving the smart card, the second slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is inserted into the second slot, the contact chip reader disposed to read the contact chip of the smart card when the smart card is inserted into the second slot; 
 the first slot and the second slot together traversing at least a majority of the overall width of the enclosure at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 whereby information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through the first slot or inserted into the second slot, and whereby information in the memory is read by an electronic device connected with the interface connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit further includes a display screen that traverses the enclosure, the control circuit configured for displaying information on the display screen. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the display screen traverses the top surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2  wherein the display screen traverses the bottom surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit further includes a fingerprint sensor that traverses the enclosure, the control circuit configured for reading fingerprint information from the fingerprint sensor and comparing the fingerprint information with authorized fingerprint information stored in the memory. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5  wherein the fingerprint sensor traverses the top surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5  wherein the fingerprint sensor traverses the bottom surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit further includes an LED indicator visible from outside of the enclosure, the control circuit configured for driving the LED indicator to represent different modes of the device. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  wherein the interface connector is a USB interface connector. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1  further comprising a cap configured for selectively securing over the interface connector. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10  wherein the cap is tethered to the enclosure with a flexible connector affixed between two connection loops, one of the connection loops fixed with the cap and another of the connection loops fixed with the enclosure. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein each connection loop is sized to receive a key ring fixed therethrough. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit further includes a wireless NFC/RFID transceiver for reading smart cards of the type having an NFC/RFID capability. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit further includes a wireless communication module configured for communicating with the electronic device. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14  wherein the wireless communication module is a Bluetooth wireless communication module. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1  wherein the power source includes power delivered through the interface connector from the electronic device. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1  wherein the power source includes a battery that is rechargeable by power delivered through the interface connector from the electronic device. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is configured to deliver power from the power source to a battery of the smart card through the contact chip reader for recharging the battery of the smart card. 
     
     
       19. A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having at least a plurality of peripheral edges, a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe, the device comprising:
 an enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge disposed opposite the first peripheral edge, a fourth peripheral edge disposed opposite the second peripheral edge, an overall length extending in a longitudinal direction, an overall width extending in a lateral direction, and an overall thickness extending in a vertical direction, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, the third peripheral edge, and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure defining an enclosure internal volume therewithin; 
 a control circuit disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and including at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, and an interface connector projecting away from the first peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 the enclosure further including a first slot traversing the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the third peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, the first slot for receiving the smart card, the first slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot, the magnetic stripe reader disposed to read the magnetic stripe of the smart card when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot; and 
 the enclosure further including a second slot traversing the third peripheral edge and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the enclosure, the second slot for receiving the smart card, the second slot sized to receive no more than two of the plurality of peripheral edges of the smart card simultaneously when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot, the contact chip reader disposed to read the contact chip of the smart card when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot; 
 the first slot and the second slot together traversing at least a majority of the overall width of the enclosure at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 whereby information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through the first slot or inserted into the second slot, and whereby information in the memory is read by an electronic device connected with the interface connector. 
 
     
     
       20. A device for reading information from a smart card of the type having a contact chip and/or a magnetic stripe, the device comprising:
 an enclosure having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge disposed opposite the first peripheral edge, a fourth peripheral edge disposed opposite the second peripheral edge, an overall length extending in a longitudinal direction, an overall width extending in a lateral direction, and an overall thickness extending in a vertical direction, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, the third peripheral edge, and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure defining an enclosure internal volume therewithin; 
 a control circuit disposed at least partially within the enclosure internal volume and including at least a processor, a memory, a power source, a magnetic stripe reader, a contact chip reader, and an interface connector projecting away from the first peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 the enclosure further including a first slot traversing the first peripheral edge, the second peripheral edge, and the third peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, the first slot for receiving the smart card, the magnetic stripe reader disposed to read the magnetic stripe of the smart card when the smart card is swiped in the longitudinal direction through the first slot; and 
 the enclosure further including a second slot traversing the third peripheral edge and the fourth peripheral edge of the enclosure, but not traversing the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge of the enclosure, the second slot for receiving the smart card, the contact chip reader disposed to read the contact chip of the smart card when the smart card is inserted in the longitudinal direction into the second slot; 
 the first slot and the second slot together traversing at least a majority of the overall width of the enclosure at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure; 
 the first slot and the second slot are spaced apart at the third peripheral edge of the enclosure by a distance that is less than the overall thickness of the enclosure; 
 whereby information from the smart card is stored by the processor into the memory when the smart card is either swiped through the first slot or inserted into the second slot, and whereby information in the memory is read by an electronic device connected with the interface connector.